Gas, oil, and water separator.



UNITED 'STATES PATENT illrrrcn.

JOSEPH ivLrowELL, oF oREsTEs, INDIANA.

GAS, OIL, AND WATER SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,819, dated July 1, 1902.

Application tied January 24,1902. serian.. 91.104. ditmaal To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. PownLL,'a citizen of the United States, residing at Orestes, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gas, Oil, and Vater Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas,`oi1, and water separators; and the object of the sameis to outer casing 3, an inner casing 4, and a well-` pipe 5 extending to the bottom of the well andprovided with a valve 5a.

The pipe 5 is connected to the separator 1l at a point above the bottom thereof. A gasoutlet pipe 6 is also connected to the top of the tank and extends to some tank (not shown) for storing the gas or connects directly with mains. A valve Gn is connected to this pipe.

In order to conduct the oil and water out of the separator l, liquid-pipes 7 and S are connected to the bottom of the separator l and extend down into the well 2. The pipe 7 extends down between theouter casingB and the inner casing 4 and isprovided with a valve 7a. The pipe 8 extends down into the well 2 between the inner casing 4 and the pipe 5 to a point about on a line with theplower end of the pipe 7, at which point it is turned up and extends up to the surface and terminates in an open mouth located just below the level of the bottom of the separator l.

When in use, the valves 5 and Ga are openV and a mixture of oil, water, and gas rises through the pipe 5 and i'lows into the tank 1. The gas will then separate from the oil and water and rise up and pass out of the tank l by way of the pipe G. If the space between the outer and inner casings is filled with water, the valve 7 in the pipe 7 is opened, which will permit the outflow of water and oil back into the well. The escape of the gas via the pipe .7 is prevented by the water above the lower open end ofthe pipe. In order to form a water seal to prevent all escape of gas, it is necessary to place the open mouth ot' the pipe 7 a distance in inches below the surface of the water inthe well equal to the product of 27.6 (the height in inches of a column of water exerting a pressure of one pound) and the pressure of gas in the separator given in pounds per square inch. ofthe pipe 7 is about ninety-two feet plus the length out of water, which corresponds to a pressure of about forty pounds. A

When there is no water between the casings 3 and 4, ythe valve 7a is left closed and the valve SiL opened instead. The U-shaped pipe 8 will quickly fill with water and oil up to its open mouth above the surface of the ground, which water will form a seal to prevent the escape of gas. The length of the vertical column of water in each branch of the pipe 8 should be just equal to the distance of the lower end of the pipe 7 below the surface of the water in the well. The oil and water will flow out of the pipe 8, when it may be' caught and the oil separated from the water.

Ido not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spiritof my invention.

- 5 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a Well, of a wellpipe mounted to conduct gas and oil out of said well, a-separating-tank connected to said well-pipe, a gas-pipe connected to said separating-tank, a liquid-pipe connected to said separating-tank with its mouth below said gas-pipe, said liquid-pipe extendingdown into said well and back to the surface so that the liquid retained therein will form a'water seal to prevent the passage of gas therethrough, substantially as described..v

2. The combination withaseparating-tank, of a pipe connected to said separating-tank to conduct oil, gas and water thereinto, a gaspipe connected to said separating-tank, and

The usual length IOO a liquid-pipe connected to said separatingmy hand inpresenoe 0f two subscribing Wit tankdnelow said gas-pipe, said liquid-pipe bemesses. ing -shaped and arranged to hoid liquid i enough to form a seal to prevent the escape of JOSEPH M *POWELL 5 gas from said separating-tank therethrough, Witnesses:

substantially as described. ALLISON W'. CRIST, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set NORA E. CROUSE. 

